2003 Trades and 2009 Trades: A Common Thread

I've been thinking about the 2003 season a lot lately. Not so much the glory that was the Yankees losing another World Series. Nor was it the unfortunate Cubs collapse coupled with the Steve Bartman fall out. What I've been focusing on is a mid season trade that bolstered a certain team's playoff run. The trade in mind left me with one simple question at the time: "Whuuuut?"

In July of 2003 there was a team that sat 4 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race and felt they needed to make a move to position themselves for a run. Their team was built to win NOW with a nice mix of veteran ballplayers......pricey veteran ballplayers. This team's particular need was a closer so they put together a package to go get one. To get an elite closer the contending team offered up the following three players: an OF, a LHP, and a 1b. The trade partner agreed and sent the closer traveling eastward along with some cash to offset the pricey reliever's contract.

Now back in 2003 what gave me pause, forcing me to question, "Whuuuut?"?

The 1b that was a part of the deal was the overall #1 draft pick from the 2000 amateur draft: a local kid: the San Diego Padres' Adrian Gonzalez. I was in awe......how could his team give up on their #1 pick only three years later? Well his team was the Florida Marlins and I guess their front office was on to something because the closer, Ugueth Urbina, seemed to be the missing ingredient in helping the Florida Marlins to win the Wild card, defeat the heavily favored Cubs, and then the vaunted payroll of the New York Yankees in the World Series.

Florida certainly wouldn't redo their own trade that sent Gonzalez to Texas. Urbina eventually assumed the Marlins closer role and -- reunited with Pudge -- won three games, saved six, and posted a 1.41 ERA to help them get to the postseason. He then recorded four saves in the playoffs, including two in the World Series.

Why have I been thinking about this? Well there is no secret that the Padres not only stink but that the likelihood of them stinking will probably last for at least three more seasons (give or take a lifetime). It is also no secret that the Padres have virtually no trade chips that are major league ready.......by the standards of a contending club......and that could also bring the Padres some significant building blocks for the future. Do the Padres even have trade-able parts?

Jake Peavy is injured and had a no-trade clause anyways. Adrian Gonzalez, who's value brought a WS to south Florida, could bring a significant haul but a deal such as that could be debilitating for the Padres: he's a local icon with inroads to the Mexican market and probably most importantly he's the sort of star who could provide a Hall of Fame worthy career....or at least worthy of a statue next to Tony's which would give additional identity to an organization that seems to lack one. Kevin Kouzmanoff will probably ship out in the next couple of weeks but the only real benefit there will we the opportunity for Chase Headley into his natural position of 3b. Which leaves us with the most attractive trade chip..... with the caveat that there is a team out there in dire need of it. The " it" I speak of.....a closer.

Heath Bell makes 1.255 million per season. That's an attractive number for a team adding payroll mid year. While Heath Bell is an exciting player (on the rare occasion we hold a lead late in a game) and brings a refreshing dose of honesty (he says some of the craziest shit I've ever heard on the radio---sometimes it's fun to just shake your head in disbelief though) rather than the customary cliches we've become so accustomed to. There is currently an enormous paradox being ignored regarding these Padres though:

If the Padres rarely hold a lead entering the 9th inning and the expected outcome shall remain the same for the foreseeable future....why use financial resources on an unused human resource?

And he's 31 years old. I don't think that necessarily means his power arm is on the verge of injury although he does strike me as the sort of guy who could injure his arm falling out of a tree while playing with his kids. Heath Bell has value...he's a Great closer...and he could help further along the rebuilding process in San Diego. If he could bring back a few players in return, one of which was a top prospect, I say do it.

The question is whether or not there is a team out there that is built to win now and feels that giving up the sort of players Florida did back in 2003 would be worthwhile. That is for another post....one which will be titled: Part II.

Swapping Stories: The Urbina trade
The under-appreciated greatness of Adrian Gonzalez

Editor's Note: #1 While searching for pictures I came across a Miami based blog that made the same reference and suggestion that I proposed here.....that's what I get for lagging....I'm publishing it anyways since it's already written. The Miami based writer goes as far as suggesting that Heath Bell should go to Florida for Dan Uggla...check it out. A trade that makes sense for both sides

Editor's Note #2:
Steve Bartman gets a bad rap and the city of Chicago should be ashamed for attacking one of their own, a fella who clearly has passion for the lovable losers. To shun a guy for trying to catch a fly ball...inexcusable....the Cubbies blew that game on their own. Now the guy who introduced Da Curse of the Billy Goat ........ Chicagoans should be getting after that guy's ancestors!